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If your home is feeling uninspired and cookie-cutter, there is nothing a little reimagining can’t do to turn your space into a stylish and unique oasis. When it comes to transforming bland to beautiful, there is no one more qualified than Leigh-Ann Allaire Perrault. The resident design & DIY expert on Cityline is known for her daring and thoughtful remodels that take into account how people live in their space.

Ahead of her main stage appearance at the Calgary Renovation Show running January 12–14 at BMO Centre, we asked Leigh-Anne to share her top tips for creating a home you’ll want to live in and show off.

It Starts With Colour

“First and foremost, the easiest, fastest and most effective way to transform a space is with colour. For example, in my own bedroom, we used to have this dark, muddy, almost brown colour that just wasn't serving the space and certainly lacked personality.

To give it some life, I chose a colour palette using the Colour Spark Colour Collection. I chose a paint called Powder in Blue. Right away, that simple change gave this light freshness to the space. Blue, from a colour psychology standpoint, tends to be a more tranquil colour that can calm and cool the body and nervous system. It's a naturally relaxing colour, making it a perfect choice for a bedroom.”

Customize Your Storage Solutions

“A great way to personalize your space is to add some custom storage, but custom doesn't need to be expensive. In my projects, I often use IKEA cabinetry and furniture to create the look of built-ins. You can do this by taking boring bookcases and adding crown moulding around the top that goes to the ceiling or elevating standard cabinetry on risers and wrapping baseboards around the bottom to give a built-in feel. Simple things like that can make your home look more expensive. There is also the fringe benefit of having extra storage to hide clutter. The less clutter in your home, the more luxe and relaxed your space will feel. ”

All About the Details

“One of my favourite ways to go from builder-basic to custom is with applied wall mouldings. We've seen a huge resurgence of architectural details in residential spaces in the last few years with elements like box mouldings, beadboard, wood trim mouldings and crown mouldings. Using these materials in a space adds instant visual interest and luxeness to a space. It is incredible how such a minor detail can take that standard box builder-grade room to something that is very customized and curated.”

Calgary Renovation Show

For more tips and information about how to make your builder-grade home feel special to you, be sure to catch Leigh-Anne and hundreds of other design experts at the upcoming Calgary Renovation Show. The show runs January 12–14 at the BMO Centre and tickets are available online at www.calgaryrenovationshow.com.